The coffee shop window had a comfortable seat and a perfect view to watch people coming and going at the bus stop and taxi stand in front of a busy downtown office building. I had long lost count of the different ages, cultures, and styles of dress that I had seen.
As a taxi pulled in, three individuals climbed out. From their actions, I guessed they were first time parents with a young daughter between two and three. She was mobile, curious, and intent on seeing the world. As her parents struggled to unload the stroller, two bags full of kid stuff, and a shopping bag on top of everything, she was ready to see the world! With a quick glance over her shoulder, she ventured one direction until the steps were too formidable, then changed course to where the action was.
Initially her parent did not seem to be paying attention. When they notice, dad jumped into action, swooping in to pick up his daughter. Initially it was all smiles. Dad and daughter laughing, mom smiling in. As soon as she realized she was going into the stroller, everything changed! The smile because a cute scowl when in turn morphed into an ugly pout and scream. As dad finished buckling her in, the scream turned into a full blown tantrum.
My assessment of the newbie parents changed. As young daughter flailed, dad’s smile never left. Mom watched without any apparent reaction, reaching in at one point to adjust one of the straps. It was as if they could not hear what the rest of us could.
Calmly and with no hint of frustration or being in a rush, dad reached behind and pulled out a milk bottle. As he gave her the bottle, it seemed to be a gift of love more than anything else. The young child paused, unsure of how to react. As she put the nibble into her mouth, her smile took me back to an old psalm; “Oh, thank God – he’s so good! His love never runs out.” (Psalm 107.1)
